Over the years, one of the most common concerns that I’ve heard from GMATers is about their pacing – specifically, the fact that they have to rush through a number of questions at the end of a section just to finish on time. “How do I fix my pacing problem?” they ask (and you might be asking it too!).   First, you have to understand that a pacing problem doesn’t exist on its own – it’s the result of OTHER issues. In simple terms, something about how you handle the […]
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Many Test Takers tend to find the Quant section of the GMAT to be easier than the Verbal section. Quant is based on more ‘obvious’ rules and patterns and you can often pinpoint the correct answer without having to consider (and then eliminate) each of the other 4 incorrect answers first.   By default, many GMATers work through Verbal questions with the idea that they should eliminate the four incorrect answers… and the answer that remains will be the correct one. While you should often be able to eliminate a […]
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In the prior post, we discussed proper reading pace for when you deal with GMAT RC passages (as a reminder, that pace should be about 150 words per minute).  Unfortunately, simply knowing that fact won’t necessarily lead you to adjust your reading speed. So here are three practice prompts – taken from the OG12 – for you to practice on. Use a timer and make sure to note how long it took you to read each passage. The proper (goal) amount of reading time is listed beneath each prompt.   […]
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Many GMATers make the mistake of thinking that ‘skimming’ is the proper way to deal with Reading Comp passages. By its nature, skimming is often a desperate way of trying to quickly deal with a (frequently lengthy) passage. Unfortunately, it sacrifices all manner of comprehension and note-taking for speed. That is a TERRIBLE trade-off – and often causes serious problems for Test Takers as they practice RC during their studies. By extension, those same Test Takers often fail to perform at a really high level on RC on Test Day, […]
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1) A motorist averaged 40 miles per hour on his way to work. He averaged 70 miles per hour on his way home along the same route. Which of the following is the closest to his average speed for the round trip? A. 40 B. 51 C. 55 D. 59 E. 59.5 The answers to this question are 'spaced out' in such a way that you don't need to do much math at all to get to the correct answer. This prompt is a fairly common 'design' for […]
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Each of the three questions listed here can be solved algebraically. However, if you pay attention to the five answer choices in each question, then you can cut down on the amount of work that is needed and potentially save some time. Remember that the goal on Test Day is to be correct AND be efficient, so while a shortcut that saves 5-10 seconds might not seem like much, if you could find that type of shortcut on every question, then you would cut 3-7 minutes of work-time in each […]
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In a couple of prior posts in this thread, we’ve discussed how to taking advantage of the answer choices (by TESTing THE ANSWERS or by thinking about what the answers choices 'mean') can be a really fast and easy way to get to the correct answer in certain Quant questions. Beyond using the answers and doing the straight-forward arithmetic though, you will sometimes be given a HUGE ‘hint’ from the GMAT question writers – the answer choices themselves will be designed in such a way that you can avoid doing […]
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The GMAT is a remarkably consistent and predictable Exam, so improving your performance isn’t just about ‘fixing’ the things that you are doing ‘wrong’ – it’s also in developing the proper skills to improve on work that you can already do.   Consider the following question. For many “math thinkers”, the approach would be “system algebra” – write out the appropriate equations and then solve for whatever the question asks for. That approach will absolutely get you to the correct answer here – and I suggest that you try it. […]
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While each of these three prompts might look complex, you CAN get to the correct answer by defining the patterns involved. 1) How many positive integers, from 2 to 100, inclusive, are not divisible by odd integers greater than 1? In this prompt, we're asked to think about the numbers 2 to 100, inclusive. To start, there's NO way that the GMAT would ask us to truly think about each of these numbers individually, so there MUST be a pattern involved.  Now to the specifics: which of […]
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For each of these three prompts, you should attempt to ‘play around’ with the question to define the pattern(s) involved – using the same approach showcased in the prior post. An explanation for how to approach each prompt in such a way will be provided tomorrow.   1) How many positive integers, from 2 to 100, inclusive, are not divisible by odd integers greater than 1?   A. 5 B. 6 C. 8 D. 10 E. 50     2) There are 20 doors marked with numbers 1 to 20 […]
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  Since the GMAT is a standardized Test, all of the questions that you’ll face are designed around one or more patterns. Sometimes the patterns are obvious – such as math formulas or grammar rules. Sometimes the patterns are more subtle - such as number properties or causality arguments.   With the proper study materials and Study Plan, you can learn all of the necessary patterns and train to properly use them. However, sometimes the patterns are so rare that they’re not worth learning in advance and sometimes they are […]
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Whether you’re just beginning your studies or have been training for the GMAT for some time now, you likely have some idea of what your ‘goal score’ is. For many GMATers, the goal is 700+. That score is relatively rare territory though – only about 10% of Test Takers ever reach that level (and some of them actually hit that score repeatedly - in an attempt to score higher - so not as many Test Takers score 700+ each year as you might think). Obviously, the numbers become even more […]
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Retaking the GMAT is an option many pre-grad students choose. But how do you know when you need to or if you should retake it? We’re answering all of your questions regarding retaking the GMAT so you can make an informed decision. How Often Is Retaking The GMAT Acceptable? There are strict guidelines for how often you can retake the GMAT. You can retake the exam up to 5 times in a 12-month period. However, you can only take it once during a 16-day period. But if you […]
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Taking the GMAT is a huge undertaking. The exam requires quite a bit of studying if you want to achieve a score that’s good enough to get you into the school you want to attend. Investing in a GMAT prep course is a surefire way to help you become adequately prepared to take this exam. Study Materials For All Aspects Of The Exam You might think you could master either the Quant or Verbal sections of the GMAT (or both) with very little studying. But, despite your knowledge […]
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Succeeding on the GMAT means taking all the necessary steps to prepare yourself. You want to go into this exam ready for anything and taking each question in stride. With these 3 steps, you’ll be able to  prepare for the GMAT effectively. Understand The Layout Of The GMAT When you understand how the exam is laid out, you have a better idea of what you need to study. In our GMAT Preparation Courses, you'll learn what the purpose of the test and the topics are. When you do […]
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Looking for the best GMAT prep course? Then let's be honest for a minute. You can find all sorts of cheap and free ways to study for the GMAT, but those options just won't serve you well. You'll want a high quality, full-service GMAT prep course if you want to get the best possible score. At Empower GMAT, we provide just that. Take a look around our website to find the product that will work best for you. First, though, let's look at why a good GMAT prep course has […]
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Finding the right GMAT study plan can help you stay on track and get the score you’re looking for. Many prospective MBA students face the difficult task of balancing a full-time job and preparing for the GMAT at the same time. So many prospective students with good intentions set a plan only to run out of steam in a few weeks. Understanding how you best work and what conditions need to be in place for you to succeed with a study plan can help set realistic milestones along the way. […]
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When it comes to online GMAT courses, you have options. The unfortunate reality is that you also have a lot of bad, or inferior options. More than anything else, we want you to be successful at the GMAT so that your MBA dreams can come true. When looking for a program to help you get the score you desire on the GMAT, here are three critical ingredients for online GMAT courses. GMAC Authenticity If you are going to spend time and money on GMAT test prep , it […]
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Search for "GMAT prep course" on Google, and you're bound to get tons of hits. With hundreds, maybe even thousands, to choose from, how do you know what's right for you? Who offers the best test prep so that you can realize your dream? We're glad you asked. Here are a few of the ways that EMPOWERgmat is a cut above the rest. How, Not Just What The GMAT is more than just a knowledge exam. It is a test of a set of skills and how you use […]
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Every year a new crop of official GMAT prep books are written, printed, and shipped to bookstores all over the country. They've served their purpose in the past, and while some still find success with them, we believe there are some very distinct advantages to computer-based GMAT prep . Here are a few of the reasons we think you'll love our GMAT-optimized course. It Fits Your Lifestyle Most likely, you already carry around a laptop or tablet that you use to access the internet, complete school assignments, or […]
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While nothing can replace good, old-fashioned studying, it can also be helpful to have some tricks up your sleeve on the GMAT. Here we're going to cover some useful GMAT prep shortcuts to help sharpen your skills for the big day! Process of Elimination The first GMAT prep shortcut we recommend is using the process of elimination first to establish which answers are out. Usually, you can eliminate one to two answers early on in your problem-solving. With every answer you remove, you increase your chances of getting it […]
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Sentence correction on the GMAT can be challenging. One reason is that many people are not skilled at writing in a grammatically sound way. Additionally, very few people talk in a grammatically sound way. Body language, colloquialism, and a dozen other factors help us to communicate clearly, if not grammatically. This leads many GMAT test takers to rely on what "sounds right" to solve the questions in the sentence correction portion of the GMAT. While this may work sometimes, it is not a sound strategy for those hoping to score […]
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There's a lot more than you might think about becoming a competitive business school candidate . As the standard business degree, employers are often looking for the depth of knowledge that comes along with an MBA. Additionally, they also weigh education as a factor in highly-competitive raises. Since business school training has become more highly emphasized in the workplace, competition for coveted MBA spots is even more cut-throat. More competition means higher standards, which means you need to be as prepared as possible. Here, we're highlighting some fundamental ways to […]
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If you are preparing to apply to business school, you know that there are numerous opportunities for assistance. Your options range from interview coaches to private tutors to books by experts. In reality, however, you are working with limited resources. You need to be sure that the supports you choose will give you the best boost for your investment. And that’s where online GMAT courses come in. The past ten years have seen a great increase in the popularity of GMAT prep online, and there are great reasons for its […]
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The GMAT exam requires preparation. You need to plan your GMAT preparation in order to maximize your results. We have written before about How Long You Should Study for the GMAT. The bottom line is that you should allow several months to study. During those months you need to study frequently and regularly. Of course, you already have a busy and full life. Here are some tips for integrating your GMAT preparation into the rest of your busy life.   Schedule Your GMAT Preparation   GMAT […]
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